the monk(僧侣)-第19章
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her！'
He said； and flew towards the Cell of the Novice。 Several Monks
were already in the chamber。 Father Pablos was one of them； and
held a medicine in his hand which He was endeavouring to
persuade Rosario to swallow。 The Others were employed in
admiring the Patient's divine countenance； which They now saw for
the first time。 She looked lovelier than ever。 She was no
longer pale or languid； A bright glow had spread itself over her
cheeks； her eyes sparkled with a serene delight； and her
countenance was expressive of confidence and resignation。
'Oh！ torment me no more！' was She saying to Pablos； when the
terrified Abbot rushed hastily into the Cell； 'My disease is far
beyond the reach of your skill； and I wish not to be cured of
it'Then perceiving Ambrosio； 'Ah！ 'tis He！' She cried； 'I see
him once again； before we part for ever！ Leave me； my Brethren；
Much have I to tell this holy Man in private。'
The Monks retired immediately； and Matilda and the Abbot remained
together。
'What have you done； imprudent Woman！' exclaimed the Latter； as
soon as they were left alone； 'Tell me； Are my suspicions just？
Am I indeed to lose you？ Has your own hand been the instrument
of your destruction？'
She smiled； and grasped his hand。
'In what have I been imprudent； Father？ I have sacrificed a
pebble； and saved a diamond： My death preserves a life valuable
to the world； and more dear to me than my own。 Yes； Father； I am
poisoned； But know that the poison once circulated in your
veins。'
'Matilda！'
'What I tell you I resolved never to discover to you but on the
bed of death： That moment is now arrived。 You cannot have
forgotten the day already； when your life was endangered by the
bite of a Cientipedoro。 The Physician gave you over； declaring
himself ignorant how to extract the venom： I knew but of one
means； and hesitated not a moment to employ it。 I was left alone
with you： You slept； I loosened the bandage from your hand； I
kissed the wound； and drew out the poison with my lips。 The
effect has been more sudden than I expected。 I feel death at my
heart； Yet an hour； and I shall be in a better world。'
'Almighty God！' exclaimed the Abbot； and sank almost lifeless
upon the Bed。
After a few minutes He again raised himself up suddenly； and
gazed upon Matilda with all the wildness of despair。
'And you have sacrificed yourself for me！ You die； and die to
preserve Ambrosio！ And is there indeed no remedy； Matilda？ And
is there indeed no hope？ Speak to me； Oh！ speak to me！ Tell
me； that you have still the means of life！'
'Be comforted； my only Friend！ Yes； I have still the means of
life in my power： But 'tis a means which I dare not employ。 It
is dangerous！ It is dreadful！ Life would be purchased at too
dear a rate； 。 。 。 unless it were permitted me to live for you。'
'Then live for me； Matilda； for me and gratitude！' （He caught
her hand； and pressed it rapturously to his lips。）'Remember our
late conversations； I now consent to every thing： Remember in
what lively colours you described the union of souls； Be it ours
to realize those ideas。 Let us forget the distinctions of sex；
despise the world's prejudices； and only consider each other as
Brother and Friend。 Live then； Matilda！ Oh！ live for me！'
'Ambrosio； it must not be。 When I thought thus； I deceived both
you and myself。 Either I must die at present； or expire by the
lingering torments of unsatisfied desire。 Oh！ since we last
conversed together； a dreadful veil has been rent from before my
eyes。 I love you no longer with the devotion which is paid to a
Saint： I prize you no more for the virtues of your soul； I lust
for the enjoyment of your person。 The Woman reigns in my bosom；
and I am become a prey to the wildest of passions。 Away with
friendship！ 'tis a cold unfeeling word。 My bosom burns with
love； with unutterable love； and love must be its return。
Tremble then； Ambrosio； tremble to succeed in your prayers。 If I
live； your truth； your reputation； your reward of a life past in
sufferings； all that you value is irretrievably lost。 I shall no
longer be able to combat my passions； shall seize every
opportunity to excite your desires； and labour to effect your
dishonour and my own。 No； no； Ambrosio； I must not live！ I am
convinced with every moment； that I have but one alternative； I
feel with every heart…throb； that I must enjoy you； or die。'
'Amazement！Matilda！ Can it be you who speak to me？'
He made a movement as if to quit his seat。 She uttered a loud
shriek； and raising herself half out of the Bed； threw her arms
round the Friar to detain him。
'Oh！ do not leave me！ Listen to my errors with compassion！ In a
few hours I shall be no more； Yet a little； and I am free from
this disgraceful passion。'
'Wretched Woman； what can I say to you！ I cannot 。 。 。 I must
not 。 。 。 But live； Matilda！ Oh！ live！'
'You do not reflect on what you ask。 What？ Live to plunge
myself in infamy？ To become the Agent of Hell？ To work the
destruction both of you and of Myself？ Feel this heart； Father！'
She took his hand： Confused； embarrassed； and fascinated； He
withdrew it not； and felt her heart throb under it。
'Feel this heart； Father！ It is yet the seat of honour； truth；
and chastity： If it beats tomorrow； it must fall a prey to the
blackest crimes。 Oh！ let me then die today！ Let me die； while
I yet deserve the tears of the virtuous！ Thus will
expire！'（She reclined her head upon his shoulder； Her golden
Hair poured itself over his Chest。） 'Folded in your arms； I
shall sink to sleep； Your hand shall close my eyes for ever； and
your lips receive my dying breath。 And will you not sometimes
think of me？ Will you not sometimes shed a tear upon my Tomb？
Oh！ Yes！ Yes！ Yes！ That kiss is my assurance！'
The hour was night。 All was silence around。 The faint beams of
a solitary Lamp darted upon Matilda's figure； and shed through
the chamber a dim mysterious light。 No prying eye； or curious
ear was near the Lovers： Nothing was heard but Matilda's
melodious accents。 Ambrosio was in the full vigour of Manhood。
He saw before him a young and beautiful Woman； the preserver of
his life； the Adorer of his person； and whom affection for him
had reduced to the brink of the Grave。 He sat upon her Bed； His
hand rested upon her bosom； Her head reclined voluptuously upon
his breast。 Who then can wonder； if He yielded to the
temptation？ Drunk with desire； He pressed his lips to those
which sought them： His kisses vied with Matilda's in warmth and
passion。 He clasped her rapturously in his arms； He forgot his
vows； his sanctity； and his fame： He remembered nothing but the
pleasure and opportunity。
'Ambrosio！ Oh！ my Ambrosio！' sighed Matilda。
'Thine； ever thine！' murmured the Friar； and sank upon her bosom。
CHAPTER III
These are the Villains
Whom all the Travellers do fear so much。
Some of them are Gentlemen
Such as the fury of ungoverned Youth
Thrust from the company of awful Men。
Two Gentlemen of Verona。
The Marquis and Lorenzo proceeded to the Hotel in silence。 The
Former employed himself in calling every circumstance to his
mind； which related might give Lorenzo's the most favourable idea
of his connexion with Agnes。 The Latter； justly alarmed for the
honour of his family； felt embarrassed by the presence of the
Marquis： The adventure which He had just witnessed forbad his
treating him as a Friend； and Antonia's interests being entrusted
to his mediation； He saw the impolicy of treating him as a Foe。
He concluded from these reflections； that profound silence would
be the wisest plan； and waited with impatience for Don Raymond's
explanation。
They arrived at the Hotel de las Cisternas。 The Marquis
immediately conducted him to his apartment； and began to express
his satisfaction at finding him at Madrid。 Lorenzo interrupted
him。
'Excuse me； my Lord；' said He with a distant air； 'if I reply
somewhat coldly to your expressions of regard。 A Sister's honour
is involved in this affair： Till that is established； and the
purport of your correspondence
